Expert advised against NAIA 3rd runway construction

NAIA Terminal 3 (Wikipedia photo)

MANILA – Following the advice of an expert hired by the Department of Transportation (DOTC) against the construction of a third runway at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the department is now looking into the possible construction of a new terminal.

“According to our initial briefing with the consultant we hired, we might not achieve the desired results given the investment and the disturbances that the parallel runway will create,” Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya told reporters at the Naia.

DOTC is now eyeing for the proposal to construct a new terminal which will be accessible to major roads including C5 Road and the South Luzon Expressway.

The third runway project received the go signal from President Aquino in September, as announced by the DOTC and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

However, the construction of the 2,100-meter runway was postponed after the DOTC-hired Dutch consultant Ruud Ummels advised against it.

Ummels was also part of the team tapped to review the country’s runway optimization program.

Ummels advised that the runway will disturb the operations of the main runway.

The said runway was supposed to augment the two Manila runways servicing domestic and international flights at the same time allowing an expanded operations among the airlines,

“Putting a runway that will cross over will affect the main runway,” Abaya said.

He added that adding a new terminal in addition to the four terminal that Naia has, is a better option.

“But it seems like that the additional terminal in the area will be less disruptive,” he said.

“When you land here you can exit that way. It will allow passengers to use C5, South Luzon coming to the airport,” he said referring to the portion of C5 South Extension, which connects SLEx and C.P. Garcia Avenue to Coastal Road.

He also said that adding a new terminal will solve the parking space problems that has been a challenge for most airlines.

Meanwhile, they department still finalizing the details of the possible proposal for a new terminal.